It's NFL season, y'all! The 2022 NFL season is just days away and if you've already drafted your teams, then you might still need to make some waiver moves before the season kicks off. Below, you'll find some wide receivers that you should be targeting on the fantasy football waiver wire ahead of Week 1.
Not all of these waiver wire options are the same. Some players may be better in PPR or deeper leagues, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all comparison. Use your best judgment when deciding which of these players is the right fit for your roster.
Be sure to also check out our Waiver Wire Adds for Week 1 for help at all the skill positions. All players on this list here are around 50% rostered or below.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills
52% rostered
The Bills passing game seems pretty easy to project based on the last few years. There will be a starting slot receiver and he'll finish second on the team in targets. Unless you think Cole Beasley was just so good that he demanded that many targets over the last couple of seasons, I don't see how the Bills' primary slot guy is going to be consistent and reliable like Beasley was. McKenzie appears to be that primary slot guy, thus I want him on my roster. Maybe Week 1 will show that I'm wrong here and that Gabe Davis is going to cut into the targets that usually go to the slot, but I...don't think I'm going to be wrong.
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
46% rostered
I'm not going to be playing Burks in Week 1, but in a passing attack with this few weapons, I think having Burks on my bench in anticipation of him having a major role is a smart game move.
The Titans receiving room is really shallow. Robert Woods, who is coming off of an injury, is the top option. Rookie Kyle Phillips might end up playing a decent bit from the slot. Aside from that...it's just not a strong situation.
Go ahead and roster Burks for at least a couple weeks to see if we get an early breakout here.
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots
40% rostered
I really don't know how we're out here letting Jakobi Meyers go rostered in just 40% of leagues.
Yes, the Patriots brought in DeVante Parker, but Meyers is still going to be the first or second look for Mac Jones. Last season, Meyers was targeted 126 times, pulling in 83 passes for 866 yards and two touchdowns.
His lack of touchdown production—the two last year are the only two of his career—is a concern, but Meyers has plenty of upside, especially in full-PPR leagues.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
31% rostered
Nico Collins was a favorite target of quarterback Davis Mills in the second preseason game, catching four of his six targets for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Collins is the No. 2 guy in an offense that'll be pretty anemic, but he gets a boost because there's not a clear No. 3 guy. Collins and Brandin Cooks will each get a lot of targets this year. Cooks will do more with his, but Collins will do enough to be fantasy relevant. Get him off that wire.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals
30% rostered
One thing that I'm fascinated by this season is how the Cardinals dole out targets to their receivers until DeAndre Hopkins returns from suspension.
Marquise Brown was brought in to be the team's deep weapon, but there's going to be a lot of underneath routes available for Rondale Moore to run.
In know a lot of fantasy football talk is about the end game: how do you win that championship? But you don't win that title without winning individual games first. Moore's increased role early on can help you win now. He might not help down the stretch, but that's fine!
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
27% rostered
Wilson is a lot like Treylon Burks this year, in that both are rookies who have a lot of talent, but we have to play a bit of a waiting game to see how the player fits into their new team's offense.
For Burks, the path to the No. 2 receiver job is just a bit more clear, though. Wilson is arguably a more talented player who can create YAC and make plays in space and down the field, but I'm not ready to start him in fantasy until I see how things shake down between him, Elijah Moore and Corey Davis.
For now, grab Wilson and stash him on your bench. If this offense makes a leap, Wilson will be worth that roster spot.
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings
11% rostered
Mike Zimmer is no longer the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, which means that the wisdom we've operated under over the last few years—that at any time, there are exactly two fantasy-relevant pass catchers on the Vikings roster—could potentially no longer be true.
In that case, keep an eye on K.J. Osborn. The torn ACL that OlaBisi Johnson suffered makes the path to Osborn as the No. 3 receiver clear.
Osborn started four of the last five games last season and averaged 5.6 targets per game over that span. In that five-game sample, he had 15 catches for 243 yards and four touchdowns. Increased snaps should lead to some solid production from Osborn–especially if Adam Thielen doesn't return to his usual form and the Vikings have to lean on Osborn more.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
4% rostered
Here's one deep league guy for you: Randall Cobb.
Cobb isn't the player he once was, but the Packers will have to throw the football somewhere this year, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a longstanding relationship with Cobb. I wouldn't be shocked to see Cobb emerge as a viable flex play in full-PPR leagues as a short-yardage option for Rodgers. Someone's got to catch those passes, right?
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
Win More With RotoBaller
Be sure to also check out all of our other daily fantasy football articles and analysis to help you set those winning lineups, including this new RotoBaller YouTube video:
More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice